Tag - Upgrade

The "Trade Up with Installments" plan from Apple Stores that allows customers to buy new iPhones with built-in yearly upgrade options for set monthly payments saw some minor changes on Tuesday. The new plans offer customers more flexibility in how they use the money they earn from trading in the older smartphone, but lowers the maximum value of a trade-in from $300 to $250. The changes are only for the Trade-Up option, and don't affect the similar iPhone Upgrade Program.

Various reports have confirmed that Apple is beginning to remove the 13-inch non-Retina MacBook Pro, the least expensive model, off the floor of its stores, with clerks steering budget-minded customers towards refurbished Retina models instead. The move comes even as expectations rise about a forthcoming refresh of the MacBook Pro line, which is overdue for a specifications bump and may -- according to rumor -- drop the non-Retina model entirely in the next round of possible upgrades, including a move to Skylake processors and new graphics systems.

Apple's iOS has reached a significant milestone in reaching its tenth iteration, and Apple continues to pump out the changes with renewed momentum. If there are some themes running through the latest release, it is that Apple is making iOS and the built-in app experience "richer," making them "bolder," and making them more "intuitive." When you're actually in them, that is. When you are not, you can still get things done through your apps via the upgrades to Siri, without needing to open them at all. If you thought that iPhone apps had somehow reached the conclusion of their evolution, Apple has shown with iOS 10, that there can never be enough reinvention, reimagination and reinvigoration of the user experience.

Apple is generally good at supporting older devices with its new operating system updates, but it can't always do it. Often, older Macs and iPhones or iPads just won't get the benefit of all the new features, but sooner or later there are requirements in the newly-named macOS or iOS that preclude certain older machines. [update 10:17PM ET with some confusion on Apple pages about devices capable of running the new iOS 10]

With just one week to go before its major Worldwide Developers Conference that is -- among other things -- expected to show off the next major upgrades to OS X, iOS, and various other software (and potentially hardware) items, Apple has released second betas of OS X 10.11.6, iOS 9.3.3, and tvOS 9.2.2, along with a first beta of watchOS 2.2.2 for developers, with public-tester versions of the OS X and iOS betas expected to arrive tomorrow. While no user-facing changes have yet been revealed, each beta brings with it small tweaks and changes to improve stability, performance, and security.

Newly-redesigned Apple Store renovations continue to roll out around the US and elsewhere, with Oklahoma City's Penn Square Apple Store -- originally the first Oklahoma Apple Store -- shut down as of April 18 so as to receive the upgrade, the centerpiece of which is a 37-foot television display, usually placed where the Genius Bar used to be. Genius service will still be available, but those staffers now mingle on the sales floor along with the rest of the staff. The redesign includes more "natural" elements such as plants and custom wooden cabinetry and tables.

For the first time ever, we're splitting a review into two completely different parts, and this is the one for you if you already use this software. Existing users know what it does, you just need to know whether it's worth your time and money upgrading to the latest one. Consequently, we can do this pretty quickly: with certain small exceptions, the answer is yes. Upgrade to FileMaker Pro 15.

Apple is updating its iPhone Upgrade Program in the United States, expanding it to cover purchases made online. Previously limited to just iPhone sales within Apple Stores, Apple is now allowing those paying for a new iPhone through the online Apple Store to take part in the scheme, which provides participants with the ability to upgrade their iPhone on an annual basis, instead of on a two-year cycle offered by many carriers.

Welcome back to the beehive of questionable activity and scurrilous gossip that is the Rumor Roundup, the forge in which a good deal of future truth is revealed -- amongst a steaming pile of second-guessing, market manipulation, misfiring guesses, and outright magical thinking. This week's predictions range from the probable (Apple will finally bring Siri to the Mac in the next major OS X upgrade) to the questionable (new iPhones will be bright pink, no wait ...) to the good old-fashioned plain old wrong (mean old Apple will take away iPad Pro Apple Pencil navigation!) and more.

It's not often that you give up trying to photograph a product for a MacNN Hands On, but then it's not often that you're reviewing a piece of glass. In essence, that is exactly what the W3 iPro upgrade Stability Kit for iPad Pro is, and there is a pretty good chance that it is of no use to you whatsoever. Yet if you have an iPad Pro, it's interesting, and if you also have an Enblue Premium One W3 stand, we'd say it becomes essential.

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Cirrus creates Lightning-headphone dev kit

Apple supplier Cirrus Logic has introduced a MFi-compliant new development kit for companies interested in using Cirrus' chips to create Lightning-based headphones, which -- regardless of whether rumors about Apple dropping the analog headphone jack in its iPhone this fall -- can offer advantages to music-loving iOS device users. The kit mentions some of the advantages of an all-digital headset or headphone connector, including higher-bitrate support, a more customizable experience, and support for power and data transfer into headphone hardware. Several companies already make Lightning headphones, and Apple has supported the concept since June 2014. http://bit.ly/29giiZj

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Apple Store app offers Procreate Pocket

The Apple Store app for iPhone, which periodically rewards users with free app gifts, is now offering the iPhone "Pocket" version of drawing app Procreate for those who have the free Apple Store app until July 28. Users who have redeemed the offer by navigating to the "Stores" tab of the app and swiping past the "iPhone Upgrade Program" banner to the "Procreate" banner have noted that only the limited Pocket (iPhone) version of the app is available free, even if the Apple Store app is installed and the offer redeemed on an iPad. The Pocket version currently sells for $3 on the iOS App Store. [32.4MB]

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Porsche adds CarPlay to 2017 Panamera

Porsche has added a fifth model of vehicle to its CarPlay-supported lineup, announcing that the 2017 Panamera -- which will arrive in the US in January -- will include Apple's infotainment technology, and be seen on a giant 12.3-inch touchscreen as part of an all-new Porsche Communication Management system. The luxury sedan starts at $99,900 for the 4S model, and scales up to the Panamera Turbo, which sells for $146,900. Other vehicles that currently support CarPlay include the 2016 911 and the 2017 models of Macan, 718 Boxster, and 718 Cayman. The company did not mention support for Google's corresponding Android Auto in its announcement. http://bit.ly/295ZQ94

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Apple employees testing wheelchair features

New features included in the forthcoming watchOS 3 are being tested by Apple retail store employees, including a new activity-tracking feature that has been designed with wheelchair users in mind. The move is slightly unusual in that, while retail employees have previously been used to test pre-release versions of OS X and iOS, this marks the first time they've been included in the otherwise developer-only watchOS betas. The company is said to have gone to great lengths to modify the activity tracker for wheelchair users, including changing the "time to stand" notification to "time to roll" and including two wheelchair-centric workout apps. http://bit.ly/2955JDa

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SanDisk reveals two 256GB microSDXC cards

SanDisk has introduced two 256GB microSDXC cards. Arriving in August for $150, the Ultra microSDXC UHS-I Premium Edition card offers transfer speeds of up to 95MB/s for reading data. The Extreme microSDXC UHS-I card can read at a fast 100MB/s and write at up to 90MB/s, and will be shipping sometime in the fourth quarter for $200. http://bit.ly/294Q1If

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Apple's third-quarter results due July 26

Apple has advised it will be issuing its third-quarter results on July 26, with a conference call to answer investor and analyst queries about the earnings set to take place later that day. The stream of the call will go live at 2pm PT (5pm ET) via Apple's investor site, with the results themselves expected to be released roughly 30 minutes before the call commences. Apple's guidance for the quarter put revenue at between $41 billion and $43 billion. http://apple.co/1oi1Pbm

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Twitter stickers slowly roll out to users

Twitter has introduced "stickers," allowing users to add extra graphical elements to their photos before uploading them to the micro-blogging service. A library of hundreds of accessories, props, and emoji will be available to use as stickers, which can be resized, rotated, and placed anywhere on the photograph. Images with stickers will also become searchable with viewers able to select a sticker to see how others use the same graphic in their own posts. Twitter advises stickers will be rolling out to users over the next few weeks, and will work on both the mobile apps and through the browser. http://bit.ly/29bbwUE